News to Use Podcast Transcript: January 25, 2012

Good day, and welcome to the Fairfax County News to Use podcast for Jan.
25, 2012. Coming up, learn about the free Volunteer Income Tax Assistance
program, the recently adopted Tysons Corner Urban Design guidelines,
advice from the Police about scams on seniors and a public comment period
on fees at the Fairfax County Park Authority. Links to topics mentioned
in this podcast can be found online at www.fairfaxcounty.gov.

Families throughout Northern Virginia received over $8.1 million in
federal refunds last tax season through the free Volunteer Income Tax Assistance
service. If you worked in 2011, and earned less than $57,000, then
you may qualify. IRS certified volunteers will ensure you receive the
maximum tax refund and help determine if you are eligible for the earned
income tax credit. Sites are open through April. For locations and times,
visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dfs/.

At its Jan. 24
meeting, the Board of Supervisors
endorsed the Tysons Corner Urban Design
Guidelines. While the land use
plan for the area sets out the vision for Tysons as a walkable, green,
urban center, these guidelines give specific recommendations on how to
achieve this goal through urban design. The new guidelines offer
principles for the design of streets, sidewalks, street lighting,
signage, parks and buildings. These guidelines do not dictate urban
design and architectural standards. Instead, they provide principles to
guide how Tysons should look and feel in the future. These principles
encourage creative, sustainable, pedestrian-friendly design and they call
for a distinct character in each of the eight districts in Tysons. The
guidelines recognize that a wide variety of conditions exist in Tysons
and flexibility is necessary, so long as the outcome furthers the
implementation of the vision set forth in the land use plan. For more
details on Tysons, visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/tysons/design/.

Recently, several Fairfax County seniors were scammed out of money.
Sadly, these are just a few of the hundreds of cases detectives in the
Financial Crimes Unit see each year. Worse yet, once money has been
wired, victims have very little recourse and these cases are rarely
prosecutable. In an effort to help educate seniors, their children and
the community at large, detectives from the police financial crimes unit
are available for group presentations. As the scams change from year to
year, police are aware of particular details and want to help raise
public awareness as well. To learn more about financial crimes and scams
or to report a crime, visit the Financial Crime online reporting site of
the police website at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/police/financialcrimes.
To request a group presentation, contact Lucy Caldwell in the Police
Public Information Office at 703-246-3271.

The Fairfax County Park Authority will hold its annual public comment
meeting on the agency's proposed fee adjustments for this year on
Wednesday, Feb. 1, at 7 p.m., in Room 106 of the Herrity Building, 12055
Government Center Parkway in Fairfax. Information outlining all proposed
fee changes is available for public review online; or a desk copy of the
fee proposal is available to review at Park Authority offices in the
Herrity Building and at staffed park facilities, including all RECenters,
golf courses, nature centers and historic sites.

A 30-day comment period is underway. Mail and email comments must be
received no later than Feb. 14. Email feedback to Parkmail@fairfaxcounty.gov
or send your written comments to: Attention Public Information Office/Fee
Comments, Fairfax County Park Authority, 12055 Government Center Parkway,
Suite 927, Fairfax, VA 22035-1118.

Finally, this time of year brings colder temperatures and solicitors to
your door selling firewood. What issues should you be aware of when a solicitor is at your door?
The Regulation and Licensing Branch has put together a firewood information
packet that has the Code of Virginia on firewood, units of
measure and an example of a firewood sale transaction. Contact the
Regulation and Licensing Branch of the Fairfax County Department of Cable
and Consumer Services at 703-324-5966 with questions or visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/consumer/firewood.htm
for more details.

That’s all for this News to Use podcast. Thanks for listening. For more
information about the topics in this podcast and for continuous news
updates, visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/news.
You may also call 703-FAIRFAX, that’s 703-324-7329, weekdays between 8
a.m. and 4:30 p.m. News to Use is produced by the Fairfax County,
Virginia, government.